Method of making tires.



H. BvvApACE. METHOD QF MAKING TIRES.

Nov. 6, 1917.

ETS-SHEET l.

H. B. WALLAC.

METHOD 0F MA'KING TIRES. APPLlcAn'oN FILED Nov. 9. |915.

Patented Nov, (.5, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

u. B. WALLACE.

METHOD 0F IVIAKING TIRES. APPucloN FILED Nov. 9. Isle.

,Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

s sains-surtt s.

H. B. WALLACE.

METHOD QF MAKING TIRES. APPLicATlQN FILED NQV.'9.1916.

Patenfed Nov. 6, 1917. `6s|-|EETs-sHEET 4.

H. B. WALLACE.

METHOD OF MAKING TIRES.

APPLICATION I'lLED NOV. 9. 1916.

g. l PatentedNoV. 6,1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

H. B. WALLACE.

METHOD 0F MAKING TIRES.

APPLICATION HLED Nov. 9. 1916.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

entre entras Hanser e. waaraan, or er. Louis, Massenet.

.METHD 0F MIHNG TRES.

Specicatlon of Letters atent.

eppiicaim aie@ Novem-bere, wie. serial in. isa/lea To all whom t may concern:

. Be it known that i, HARRY B. WALLACE, a citizen of the United States, residin at the ctiy of St.-Louis, in the State of h issouri, have invented certain new and useful iinproven'ieiits in Methods of Making' Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This application covers process subie-ct mattei' divided from an application led by ine August 18, 1916, 'serially numbered 115,638, and is to that extent a continuation thereof, but certain additional matter is, also, herein included.

This invention relates to tires, especiaily of the kind that are used on automobiles.,-4

and to the method of making tlieLL'saine. These tires may be made either as air-tight casings adapted to be used minus the inner air tube now customarily in use or in the form of pneumatic inner tubes adapted to be iiiclosed in the outer casinos now customary or the like. Mutatie mutua/(lili, the method of this invention may be used for makingany article of similar general construction.

The objects of this invention are, among others, to make the part of the tire or inner tube that is adjacent to the tread of the tire stronger and to that extent puncture proof; so to construct the saine as to eliminateblow outs from rim cuts and, also, to obviate' numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a form of mandrel on which the above-mentioned tires' can be formed 'and in connectionA with which the hereinafter-described method of manufacture can be practised whether the product is to be an airetight tire or an inner tube to be in- -closed in an outencasing` plies of plastic rubber` textile fabric, or the like, and a ring ot' relatively harder material being shown thei'emi' in process of making a tire or tube;

Fig, is a View similar to Fig. 1, but illus trating l'certain preferred details of 4manufacture resulting in. the preferred forni of tireur tube illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a tire or tube o the preferred form. of this invention;

Fig. t is a transverse sectional View illus-I trating one form of core or mandrel for forming such a tire or tube and heating superimposed thereon. certain piies of rubber and fabric;

Figs. 5, 6, and Y are transverse sectional views through a casing; of ordinary construction liaving therein inner tubes con-y striicted accordin lated in their respective casings, the said g to this invention and iiiiiiiier tubel in each case being, also, shown in section and the forms in the sai three figures being' modifications of the torni of tire or tube illustrated in AFig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view illustrating :i complete air-tight casing and 'tube combined inade in accordance with this in vention;

Fig. 9 illustrates another Fig. 3;

Fig'. 10 is a sectional view illustrating7 as viewed from above, an inner tube of 'this invention contained in the incid in which is cured;

Fig. 11 shows a modified form of mandrel and the method of making a modified forni of product;

Fig. 12 shows the said inodilied product in transverse section;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the part of the said product near its valve prior to 'vulcanizatiom and Fig. 141 is a sideelcvation of the saine at the saine point after vulcanization.

modification of tight casing which does not require the use of an inner tube and, furthermore, that Fig. 3 may be regarded as the illustration either of an airtight casing that does not require the use of an inner tube oroflan inner tube itself adapted to be placed in an outer easv iingl ofweither ordinary or special construction. m

The casing 1 may be an ordinary casing of any ordinaryeor Well known construction,

and may be either of clencher, quick de` of the valve 5. 1t is to be understood that the head 6 of the said valve 5 is inserted Within the inner tube 10 before the same is vulcanized and drawn down ltightly against its qvvall. rlhe keeper-plate 8 is then slid along the valve 5 until it comes in contact with the ring 11 attachedto the inner tube 10,I and forming part thereof, and the said head 6 and the said plate 8 are then drawn together by the turning of nut 7 on the threads 9. The inner tube is then placed in the mold 12 for vulcanization, as shown in Fig. 10.

It Will be observed from an examination of Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, that When the nut 7ri is turned into place on the inside of rim 4, as is customary in attaching tires to Wheels, the ring or member 11 Will be dravvn toward rim 4 in such manner as to cause 4the same to act as a Wedge between vthe flanges 3 or similar parts, and thus increase .the tightness of connection between the tire and the Wheel-rim, the said ring or member 11 being of hard or semi-hard material. as compared with the more flexible or resilient material outside of, or adjacent to, the same.

Heretofore inner tubes for tires have been formed in longitudinal tubular form on long metalcalender rolls or mandrels and later bent into annular form and 4their ends joinedin a transverse seam vulcanized by heat. The said transverse seam has been a point of Weakness and a place Where leaks resulting in flat tires have' often occurred. The' said calender rolls bearing the inner tubes have' been introduced into the oven in Which the tubes have been cured and are out of use for shaping purposes during the process of vulcanization or curing, being used in vulcanization as internal molds. ln lieu of the said rolls. air or other fluid under pressure is used in the process of this invention as a form during curing. r1`he molding core or mandrel 13 in Fig. 4 and 14 in Figs. 1 and 2 may be made of Wood, because, according to the herein-described process of molding and curing, it is not necessary to introduce the said cores into the curing oven,

- but one of thel advantages of this invention is that it provides for the removal ofthe molded tube from the molding core or man drel before introduction into the curing oven (not shown). Metal cores are, moreY- Lacasse ,material 15 adapted to stop the entrance of any penetrating point or instrument that may have pierced the casing 1 and begun to pass through the tube 10. '.lfhese strips may be of any desired Width or extension. and, for instance, may extend as in Fig. 3 or as in lEigs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1, or lt is, of course, Well understood that the air contained within air space 16 inside the inner tube 1() can not escape until a puncture has been made through the entire thicknessl of tube. 10, including the fabric strips 15.

Certain other features of the construction of this invention will be best understood when stated in the following description of the method of manufacture of these tires.

The method of making the same is substantially the saine Whether the molding core or mandrel depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 or the other form of molding corel depicted in Fig. t or any other shape of core is used and Whether the product is of the form shown in Fig. 3 or that shown in any of the optional forms. rl`he necessary changes in steps can easily be made according to which form of product is desired, but the method Will first be described in connection with Fig. 1.

The mandrel, core, or tire-m: 'd 14 is first placed in position on a tire-mold holder of ordinary construction, which holder is not illustrated in the drawings. Then upon and around the said core l-ft annularly and nearly circiunferentially a layer 17 of plastic rubi ber is laid and worked upon the core 14- from the notch 18 all the way around to the shoulder 19. Then at and to each side Of the tread part of the tire a layer 15 of fabricl is Worked upon the said layer of rubA ber 17 so as to adhere thereto. After this a second ply of plastic rubber 20 is laid upon said fabric ply 15 and-Worked thereon and from a point located approXimately at the point marked 21 all the Way around toiapproximately the point marked 22 upon l'the fiange 23 of core 14, the hard rubber or semihard rubber or built-up fabric bead or ringt 11 having previously been placed Within the core 14 and closely fitting and adhering more or less to the plastic rubber material 17. Following the placing and Working of plastic rubber material 20. another ply of fabric 15 is placed thereon and Worked thereupon like the fabric layer last mentioned, and then the outer ply of plastic rubber 2t is laid in place and worked upon the :escasas ply of fabric lunderlying the same, being chamfered or itapercd near its ends and 26 sc as 'to end in smooth connection with and adhesion to ply 20,. .In the foregoing description, Where rubber or fabric is said to bev ivorked lupon an underlying member, it is understood that the same is ,accomplished by suitable hand or other tools, such as rollers, knives, mallets, pest-les,l or the like. y y

After the tire or inner tube has been constructed as, hereinbefore described, it is slipped o" the core14 by loosening it at the point 22 (of course, if a collapsible core is 'used it is simply collapsed), and then that partei the saine adjacent to the said point Q2 When' on the core is brought together with .the opposing side, so that the part et the tire that when onV the core liesadjacent to the shoulderl19 meets with that part ot the tube which when on the core is located at the notch 18, and that part of the tube which when on the core extends from the shoulder 19 to the point marked 22 is caused to adhere to the outside of the ring 11., covering the saine all 'the Way from the part which on the core is adjacent to the notch 'i8 to the point marked 21. A hole (not shown) is formed in ring 11, as indicated in Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7,8, and 9 (but not shown in Figs. .i and 2)-thre`ugh which the l stem of the valve 5 is inserted. as hereinafter described, and the saine protrudes outwardly through the ring 11 and that part of the plastic rubber tube material that eX- tends when on the core from the shoulder 1.9 to the point marked 22. The said part of they tube, being of plastic rubber, is easily molded around the said valve 5.

rThe method of forming, in accordance with Fig. 2, the preferred form of tire o1' tube illustrated in Fig. 3 is substantially the salue as that hereinbefore described'in conl nection With Fig.v 1, 'with the differences, hoi'vever, that the sides of the plastic plies 20 are extended farther on the iiange 23 than Ithe point 22, that is tolsay, to a point. 27 (whereby' the reach of the said plies is increased), andthe adjacent side of the ply 15 is extended between the same adjacent substantially to the same point, While at the opposite side of the said plastic ply 2Q and fabric ply 15 their edges are extended approximately to the point 28, which results in greatly strengthening the 4article .pro

duced, and'when the opposing edges brought `from point 27 to overlap those' that terminate at point y28 are caused to adhere together the article h'as the appearance shown in Fig. 3, in which a plastic ply 29 overlies thering 11, while another plastic ply 30 underlies the saine (both adhering thereto). and a portion of fabric 31 underlies the plastic material 30 and is bound thereto by a layer of plastic material 32, and another parts thereby caused to adhere more or less to adjoining parts by reason of the adhesiveness of the plastic rubber plies, the tube is vplaced in a two-piece mold, as depicted in Fig. 10 in sectional view, which mold has a hole between the two sections, enabling the valve 5 to protrude therethrough. Air or other iuid is injected through the said valve, so that the tube is inflated te the full size of the mold or to any other size desired, anysuitable closure (not shown) is applied to the mouth of the valve 5, and the mold 12 containing the tube is introduced into the curing oven. By this method of manufacture, it will be 'observed that the valve stein is vulcanized in its piace in the tube at the saine time and by the une operation as when the tube is vulcanized, and, furthermore, that no transverse seam occurs in the tire and that none such needs \f'ulcanization. Due to the :fact that plastic rubber is pressed upon and worked. to adhere to the ring .or

bead 11 and thereafter the whole is cured by baking, the tube produced as hereinbe-l (the Whole being vulcanized into one integral mass), negatives the presenc of a seam containing possibilities of leakage.

It should be noted that in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the inner tube 10 is shown as inliated to approximately a close or tight fit with the inside of the casing 1`, but, if desired, a slight air space may be'left between'the said inner tube and the part oi' the inside of the casing 1 adjacent to its tread, the same being accomplished merely by the introduction of less air. Due tothe factv that the tread side ot the tube preferably contains protective strips 15,- intlation of the tube will expand rst the parts awhy from the said strips and thus leave suchl air space opposite the tread.

One of vthe commonest causes of what are known as tlat tires is what are called pii'iches, and these usually occur in that part of the Atube adjacent to the rim; but pinches are' obviated by the construction of this invention due, to the fact that the ring 11 is incapable oi being` pinched, While the fabric strips 15 so protect the tread part of the tube as to prevent, pinches there or anywhere where the said fabric strips 15 extend.

Another conunon 'cause ot flat tires is rim cuts on the edges oi' the casing adjacent to their attachment to their respecN tive rims. when the wall of a casing at a point like 35 (Figs. 3, 5, 6., and 7) becomes thin by the rim cutting therethrough, the pressure from the inside out ot the coinpressed air contained within the inner tube produces a lolowuoun ati for instance, such a point as 35. In the preferred construction of the ring' ll., as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, the bead or ring li will extend higher than the langes 3 ot the rim l and prevent blowbuts due to rim-cutting. because there can be no blow-out. through ring or bead ll.

ln Fig'. 7 the bead or ringv 'l1 consists of a. pair ot' members Siti ot material like that hereinbetore mentioned in connection with ring 1l, which members BG become amalojamated into one in the hereinbetore-descrined 'process ot vulcanization with the valve 5 in place between and cemented to them.

Figs. 5, tl, and 7 ditler trom each other inv respect to the arrangement of plies ot rubber and in the same respect (litter more or .less trom'lfigs. l and lu Fig. 5 the plies of rubber are shown as separated by strips of other 'fabric l5 and as coming to a common point immediately above the ring;- ll, to which they become welded by Vnlcanization. In Fig t3 one ply of rubber forms a tube; the next. outer ply ot rubber underlies the same and rests upon the top ot the ring ll and encircles the first-mentioned tubular ply ot rubber and at its other end 37 underlies and underlaps the said ring il. rlhe next outer ply underlaps the end 37 aforesaid at 38 and encircles all within it and underlies its end 38 at 39. Rubber ply 40 lies outside of allthe aforementioned plies, but doesI not completely encircle thesame, its end being chamfered at 4l,

In Fig. 7 the inner tube l() is made et a. tubular ply 42. which lies above the ring ll composed until vulcanization or" the two semi-hard rubber members 36. @ntside ot the plastic rubber ply 42 is another tubular plastic member 43 separated trom the ply #l2 by a fabric strip l5, Superimposed upon ply 43 is anothertabric strip l5. outside of which is a plastic rubber ply that begins at 44. and ends at 45. its said ends llt and 45 overlapping` each other, while the rest ot the said ply encircles the plies 42 and @verlying the ply having the ents lei and 15 is ply 4G, which does not encircle the lastmentioned ply, and has chamtered ends Ll?.

One advantage of forming` an inner tube upon an annular core like those herein described andv illustrated. rather than upon long calender rolls or mandrels. is that the right amount ot material will be spread upon the outer sul-tace ot the said core and a lesser amount upon the inner surface ot isuch cori and the said material is molded in thefright manner in its curvilinear torni.

'fr straight tube that is subsequently bent into annular shape naturally tends to break and crack on the in cause it has too much material there tor its' curvature and 'tends likewise to break and separate on its outer circuniterence because it has relatively toc little material there.

llt should be understood that in the torres illust-rated in rigs. l, 3) i? t3, 7, S, 9, and l() the valve is cemented to the tube and within the ring il in the process oyulcauization or curing ot the tube. In the torni shown in lfigij. 7 all that is necessary tor its location in position is that it shall be inserted between the members Btl, while in the torni oi ring` ll shown in i, il, 5, t3., 8. t), and lll. in which the aid ringij is pomi'idsed ot a single member, it. is necessary to leave a hole through which it can bc passed.

The tube when placed in the mold l2 may be inflated with air or other linid under pressure, which serves as a term upon which the tire is held while being;` vulcanized. obviatiug' the use ot metal cores as such internal molds.

rl'he foregoing description applies equally to the manufacture of what are known as inner tubes for pneumatic tires and the manufacture ot what are known as outer casiug's nd. also, the manufacture ot combined tubes and casings such as illustratedv in Fig. 5%. in which the use of an 'inner tube is dispensed with, and the tire 4 (built 'up ot plies ot plastic rubber in substantially the same manner as described in connection with Figs. l and 2) serves the combined function et both inner tube and casino, rEhe tire of Fig. Shas the ring l1, valve 5 and connected parts, and the alternated pliesI ot riibber and protective fabric hereinbetore described in connection with the other figures of the drawings. The rinfr il shown-in Fig. 8. although ot some-l what dilterent shape trom that of the same member shown in the said other figures, has the same 'function as in the said other constructions.

(lne bt' the main features oi the method of making inner tubes herein described is that it permits and provides means tor making an inner tube which as made and pro'- duced will possess a contour substantially contorming' to the interior form or shape. as well as sir/e of the inside cavity of an ordinary outer casing within which the said tube is 'to be used. and. furthermore, that the said inner tube nianutactured accordingy to this method will be transversely and longitudinally seamless. By reference to Figs. 3 and in which constructions that may be needn as inner tubes are shown disjoined from outer casinggs. and, furthermore. by comparison ot' the same with the inner tubes illustrated in Figs. 5. 6. and 7. it will be seen that .such inner tubes have a shape in cross-seclion somewhat reseniblinI the shape of e of the curve belil() cross section' of a pear and that the same within an ordinary vouter casing. 'Compara-- son of the shape of the mandrel or core' 13m' llin. 4t with the main body portion of, tho mandrel illustrated in Figs. land Q'Will in part shoiv how the herein described method of manufacture may be varied with in the' scope of this invention, this method not being limited to thel use of any particular apparatus.l y y in 5, 6, and 7 the plies of plastic rubberfroin which the tubes are built up in the manner described in connection With Figs, 7, and 2 are indicated, although the pro s of vulcaniaation so blends the same together as 'to maire the plies of plastic rubber an integral mass such as better ill-ustinted in 9, and 10.

t is evident lthat the herein-described process manufacturing tires is much cheaper than any 'heretofore practised', for the following, among other, reasons: Separate vulcanization of a transverse seam is obviated, because in theser tires 'there is no transverse seam; separate vulcanization of the valve place in the tire is obviated, because that is done simultaneously With the curing of the tire; instead of introducing' the shaping cores into the curing molds (thus putting out of use the said cores durthe process of curing), the tires are removed from the said cores and they are molded the curing process upon the natcore of air other fluid introduced into vthe same .through the .valve immediately before being?,= 'placed in the curing oven; the way of laying; and Working the plies from which the tireis built up is simpler and more convenient in this method .than in others: leaks are obviated by this process and thus no Waste tires need to be discarded;

and the, product produced Aissuperior in y can be shaped sofas to fit exactly the inte-v rior contour of such an outer casing, instead of being; inade'in the tubular form now practised on 4mandreis or calender rolls. When such a tubular inner tube is placed inside a casing, it assumes the wedge shape of the interior contour ofthe casing' only by reason of the air pressure being so excessive as to force it out of its own tubular shape and so as to assume any shape possible to give it vby expansion! The herein-described method of manufacture, however, allows the lnner ,ase

'tube tobe conformed in manufacture to the -.a1r inflation takes place it is not necessary vto introduce an enormous pressure adequate lto force a tubular-shaped inner tubeA into the shape demarked by the outer casing, but the introduction of slight air-pressure causes l, the Walls of the inner .tube of this invention (shapedin manufacture to conform to the inner contour of the casing) to take the shape of the interior contour of the casing, and a verv slight additional pressure Will impart to the tire all the resiliency necessary. @ne of the greatest causes of oleterioration in tubes and casings is the eX- oessive pressure from Within the 4same caused by air inflation adequate tol meet present conditions; but with the inner tubes of this invention half the air pressure co1n. monly applied in other makes is suflicient.' For this reason, it has been found in actual practice that a casing of ordinary make having; a Weak spot or weak spots from cuts or other causes which would resultdn an immediate blow-out if inflated' adequately for the insertion of an ordinary inner tube of the kind customarily now in use can not only he used With a tire of the kind herein described shaped to conform tothe interior contour of the casing, but Will give long aug mented service. V

lt is Well lrnovvn that tires that are'highly linfiated with air are hard-riding, While tires with air underiniiated, i. e., having a lless degree of air-pressure Withinthe same, are easymiding`llt is, therefore, another advantage of this inventionv that, While adequately inflated With half the airpressure properly necessary for other tires, the tires of this invention are easy-riding, 4because ofthe lessdegree of air-pressure .used in properly inllating the same. This is an advantage for any kind of car, but is a parfticularadvantage in ambulances, pleasure cars, and the like. The more gently a car rides the less Will be the v'vibration and consequent deterioration of all parts, Alt will be observed that in Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7, 8,` and 9 of the drawings the inner tube is in each case indicated as having' a Wedge-shaped form toward the bottom' and shaped otherwise corresponding substantially to the in; terior contour of an ordinary outer casin. ln the manufacture of automobile casings at'the present time, twov different qualities or structures'of textile fabric are used, the

same being .employed for different purposes. One of these is a close mesh fabricl'which. is used as building fabric, such as employed in the inner parts of an automobile casing, while the outmost ply of textile fabric in an automobileca'sing consists of What is -lcalled fbreaker cloth, which is a textile the spirit of this invention.

fabric of relatively Wide or open mesh. ln an automobile casing, the breaker clot is used for the outmost ply of fabric, because it has been found that its open mesh allows it to receive the rough impacts of the road with. less damage thereto than if the closer woven interior building fabric Were located in its position. .ln the construction of the herein-described inflatable tires like Fig. 8 or the herein-described inner tubes, the r'elatively open mesh textile fabric is used for a different purpose, namely, to increase the flexibility of the construction, whereby it has been found in actual practice that an inner tube of the ordinary thirty inches by three and a half inches dimensions expands throughout'one-half inch under a pneumatic pressure of about fifty pounds and that such pressure is adequate for the proper use thereof. lt is well known that the longevity of a tire is diminished by excessive internal pressure and increased by the use of adeouate, but less, pressure. ln the use of the said open mesh textile fabric for the plies in the tires herein described, the saine is cut on the bias,'for the purpose of additionally increasing the flexibility of the structure.

'While the ring 11 has been herein mentioned as an element used together with.

other elements, such, for instance, as the plies of rubber or the plies of fabric or the valve, nevertheless it should be clearly understood that after vulcanization of the tire or tube the whole constitutes an integral mass in which the individual elements, such, for instance, as the said plies of rubber and the ring and the said plies of fabric, and the said valve, are fused together' and constitute a. single unitary article. lt should also be understood that, while, for purposes of convenience and in order to give an example of one form of this invention, the ring 11 has been described being` an element used While the tire or tube is in the making, nevertheless the same may be omitted entirely and the other building elements united and vulcanized into a unitary' Whole.

l hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is'evident that many minor changes maybe made therein without departing from rllhe flange E23 may be of the forni shown in Fig. 11 instead of' that shovvi'r in Figs. 1 and 2- and that shown in Fig. 4. ln the form shown in Fig. 11, the shoulder 19 is omitted, and either the skill of the workman or a mark or series of marks arc depended on instead of shoulder 19 to denote. the stop for the innermost ply of material. Similar marks or skill may be relied upon to demark the place where the edges of the outer plies of material shall be brought. A eoun tersink 49 in the internal periphery of the core 14a is adapted to receive the head 6,01l

nari-asse valve 5 and there tol be held in place by the innermost ply 17 of plastic material until the other plies 20 and 24 of plastic material are added and during the building of the tube or tire on the mandrel. By thus embedding the valve in the material of the tube or tire while the same 'is being built up on the mandrel, the same is found in place when the extreme opposite ends of the various plies of material are caused to meet or to overlap after removal of the partially cornpleted article from the mandrel, and the said valve can then in an airtight manner be vulcanized into connection with, and in place in, the tube or tire 10 or tire 48 in the opera tion of curing the same. The foregoing remarks apply more especially to the formation of the construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12, vbut apply, also, Where a ring'lll is used, 4as shown in Figs. 1, 2, etc.

ln the practice of the method of forming tires or tubes from which the ring 11 is omit-y ted, the following is the preferable mode of procedure. rl`he head 6 of the valve bearing a rubber gasket 50 and a gasket of rubberized fabric 51 upon the stem of the valve 5 is inserted in the countersink 49 in the core 14, and the innermost ply 17 of plastic material is caused to fit around the said valvestem either by the said stem being passed through a hole punched or cut in the said plastic ply or in any other suitable manner, and 'the said ply is then Wrapped around core 14 and laid out upon flange 23 more or less as shown in Fig. 11. @f course, if the core such as core 13 shown in Fig. 4 is used, the said core 13 will need to be provided with a eountersink 49, and slight changes of manipulation of the plies will be necessary. The same remarks apply to the cores 14 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Next the( plies of fabric 15 and plastic material Q0 and 24 are arranged in alternation in substantially the manner illustrated in Fig. 11 and following the general method hereinbefore described. The article is then removed from the mandrel and the ends of the said plastic plies illustrated in Fig. 11 as lying upon flange 23a are caused to meet and partially underlap their opposite edges shown in Fig. 11 as extending beyond valve 5 toward notch 18 and caused to adhere to the said opposite edges. Their overlapping and underlapping relation is illustrated in. Fig. 12, as is, also, the factthat the completed article is of substantially the shape of the interior contour of an ordinary outer casing for autom/obile tires. The size of the mandrel determines the size of the product, and thus both size and shape may be made approximately thatl of the interior of such a casing.

rllhe relation of the fabric strips and plastic plies illustrated in section in u Fig. '12 shows that While the discontinuance of' the innermost fabric strips 15 some distance gaa intense from the part oil? ffruction that is adjacent to the :telly of ti,U wheelA allows the expansion of tube or tire with relatively a small amount oi air-pressure as .compared with present practice, yet the extension of the outer law-i" strip to a point approx'imati ing the sai cil y part oit the tire or tube carries the sa row the point 35 ol rim-cutting', and engthens the article against blow-,outs account of rim-cutting. The overlapping the plies ofplastic material at the point adjacent to the telly portion of the tube or e, together with the extension ot the fabric approximately the same point, produces an excess oi material at or about that point which results in a stiilened bead or rib or thickened part thereat which forms a relatively strong, and yet pliable, part for' Contact with the telly 'oit the `vwheel, which stifiened part takes the place of the ring 11 'to lwhich reference has been hereinbefore made, and which, likeit, is after'vulcanization an integral part of the tube or tire.

When, by overlapping the plies of material beneath the core 14 shown in Fig. 11

with those lying upon the flange 23 shown' in the saine ligure, a structure like that'illusytrated in Fig. 12 has been produced, a gasket of rubberized material is passed down the stem of valve 5 until it contacts with the outermost ply of plastic mate rial 24,' a keeper-plate 53 having the coll-ar 5l thereon is similarly passed down the said valve stem, and the nut is screwed home, all the said last-mentioned parts oo cupying 'the position shown ,inV Fig. 13.

rlhe tube or tire is then introduced into moldy 12 and ini-lated with air 'or other fluid, as

hereinbefore described, and .heat is applied to the same while in the said mold.` The torce or" the iiuid pressure upon the parts illustrated in Fig. 18 while in the said mold is such as to cause them'to assume the form and positionillustrated in Fig. 14, which 'ligure illustrates the appearance ol" the finished article in sideelevation, while Fig. 12 shows the Asame in cross-section. The gaskets 51 and 52 of rubberized fabric are used to prevent too great flow of the rubber over such metal parts as the valveestem and the keeperfplate 53 under the influence of heat while4 the tube or tire being cured. The rubber gasket 50, as 'welles the rubber in the gaskets 51. and 52, for the purpose ot producing an absolutely air-tight joint betuf'een the valve and the tube or tire. The convenience of this method of construction in eliminating useless operations, as well as the fact that no transverse seam needs vulcanization as in ordinary tube-making, and that no separate operation is necessary to vulcanizc the valve in place, butk that the same is vulcanized in its place in the same operation by which the tire orA tube iscured', and, furthermore, that the product is seamversely, will be readily appreciated The tact that the-product when made and used as an inner tube for a tire casing is ofv approximately the size and shape of the interior contour of such casing is ya' great advantage, as less air-pressure is necessz'irv for proper distention of such a tube, sie at the same time it is unnecessary to stret tube from a natural cylindrical torni into v less circumterentially as lwcll-l as trans something like the form of a Wedge in order to cause the same to contorni to the interior' shape of the outer casing.

The wedge shape or .shape somewhat4 like a section taken through the middle of a pearf shown in Fig. 12 is imparted by the air or other Huid pressure within the tube or tire while being cured and by the form oi the mold. c v

In practice it has been found 'rable to work lthe opposing edges of the tire or tube very thoroughly together when the same has been removed from the mandrel. as herein beoredescribed, for the purpose elixnif nating air^bubbles that would otherwise be retained. in the plasticruhber; but tl is werke.

ing has been attended by some inconven 'ience due, to the adhesive quality ol the entire tube or tire. To cause the edges n here and to worlr them -lirinl y while 'at the Sametime not producing sion ot other parts of the wall ol' the tube, has necessitated the use ol vario-us cio pedients, all morel or less unsatisfactory.' By preference, therefore, talcuni powder, soapstone, flour, or some similar dizssty or powdery substance is `spread within the 'tire or tube so as to cover all, or substantially all, of its interior Wall (care heilig taken that the edges that are to 'overl ap and adhere to each other are kept free from such material) and in that Way adhesion of the opposite parts of the interior Wall is prevented. while at thesame time the overlapping and pressing down and working of the meeting opposing edges can be, very conveniently performed upon the rest of the tube or tire.

Sil'

core, inserting the valve, closing'the opposite edges of the said plastic. plies, and' curing` the said tire andvulcanizing all its, mem-y bers into an integral mass andthe valve into its place therein by. halting' the saine in a suitable oven.

2. '.l`he method ot 1loi-ming a tire consisting; in laying upon a suitable corry a ply oit plastic vulcanizahle material that almos completely eni'zircles the said core antlyvorking the san-1e thereon so as to give it proper thickness and dimension and which is encl- -less and seamless circuniferentially or the said core; placing` Within the saiil core and in adhesive connection with the said firstnientionecl plastic ply a ring of relatively harder vulcanisahle material and having therein a hole for the passage of a valve thcretl'irough; supei'iniposing upon the said ply of plastic material adjacent to the tread portion ol the tire a ply olf protective nia-- terial and working the saine into adhesive connection with the said first-mentioned ply (the saicl protective ply extending circumt'erentially around the saifl first-mentioned ply, but not extending; so 'ar around the said core the said inst-mentioned ply); superiinposing another ply oi" vulcanizahle plastic material which more or underlies the saicl ring and is caused to aflhero thereto and 'which is ciicu i'ferentially endless and `A`iiles-i anti, nearly encircles the s Jitl core .ar i working saine into adhesive connection with the ply or protective inaterial so Working the saine to proper thiol: `ess and dimension; ieinoi-Jing,` the tire from the coreai'itl'hringing its loose or iap ends over into juxtaposition to tno said irst-rnentione ply and to the said ring); anti causing the' ends the innermost or ,tiretmentioned. ply to ineet and adhere to each other and` the enel of 'the second plastic ply (and, if there he any, of any other plastif.: plies) underneath the said ring ancl causing the' saine to adhere thereto (the valve having 1neen previously inserted in the hole in pas the said g and vulcanizi-ng the Whole into intergral inass. sa il The herein-described rnethocl olf inaliing a tire consisting/in ilorrning Aupon a suitable core layer oi. ply oiE plastic rubber the opposite enges ol which flo not moet While on saifl core; forming in like manner in superimposed position and aclhesive connection. an additional layer or' acllitional layers of plastic rubber having eliges that elo not vwhile on the said core; reinoving the tire from the said core; causing the said. opposing edges to approach iach other; .inserting` a semi-hard rubber ring` or the lilre aving a valve protruding therethrough hetween the said opposing edges; causing the said. opporfaing edges to adhere to each other to the said. ring and valve; and vulcanising the saiil valve into place and the Asaixl opposing edges into integral union with eachother and the bony of the said tire for its curing in single operation of halting.-

of; t, Thorne-thea of e; tire consisting in laying upon a suitable core a ply of vulcanizahle plastic material that almost completely eneircles the said core and Working the saine thereon so as to give it proper thickness and dimension and which is endless and seamless circuinerentially of the said core; placing` Within the said core and in adhesive connection with the said rstmentioned plastic ply a ring of relatively harder vulcanizable material and having therein a hole for the passage of a valve therethrough; superiniposing upon the sai ply of plastic material adjacent to the tread portion oi the tire a ply ol protective Inaterial and Working the saine into adhesive connection with the said First-mentioned ply (the saio protective ply extending circumlferentially aroui'iil the said first-mentioned ply sopa-imposing another ply ol vulcanizahle plastic material which more or less unolerlies the said ring and is caused to adhere thereto and' which is circumferentially endless and. seamless and nearly encircles the said core and Working the same into adhesive connection with the said ply of protective material and so Working the saine to proper thicli'ness and dimension; removing tire tire from. the core and bringing its loose or flap ends over into juxtaposition to the saiil first-mentioned ply and to the saitl ring and causing the ends of the innermost or hist-mentioned ply to meet and aolhere t each other and the end of the secondi plastic ply (and, ii` there he any, of any other plastic plies) underneath the saicl ring and causing' the saine to adhere thereto (the valve having heen previously inserted in the saisi hole in the said. ring) g and vulcanizing the Whole into an integral mass 5. The method of forming a tire consisting; in laying upon a suitable core a ply ol vulcanizahle plastic material that almost completely encircles the said core and working' the saine thereon so as to give it proper thickness and dimension and which is endiferentially around 'the' Saul li-rst-mentionefi ply) ;`superinnposing,v Aanother ply of vulcanica-lele plastic material which underlies and extends beyond the middle of the'said'ring; anti is caused to adhere thereto and which is circumferentially endless and seamless and nearly eneircles the said core and working the saine into adhesive connection with the izo' naeaeae l j said ply of protective material and so Working vthe same to proper thickness and dimension; removing the tire from the core and bringing its loose or flap ends over into juxtaposition to the said inst-mentioned ply and to the said ring and causing the ends of the innermost or first-mentioned ply to meet and adhere to each other and the end of the second plastic ply (and, if there be any, of any other plastic plies) underneath the said ring and beyond its middle and causing the same 'to adhere thereto (the valve having been previously inserted in the said hole in the said ring); and vuleanizing the Whole into an integral mass. y 5. 1The method of formin a tire consisting in laying upon a suitab e core a ply of plastic `vulcanizable material 'that almost completely eneircles the said core and Whichw,v

is endless and seamless eircninferentially 'of the said core 'and Working the` saine thereon so as to give it the proper thickness diinension, superimposing upon the said ply of plastic material a ply of protective material and working the same into adhesive connection -with said inst-mentioned ply, the said protective ply extending circumferentia-lly around the first-,mentioned plys out not extending so far aroundthe said core as the ifirst-mentioned ply, superimposing Aother ply of vulcanizable material which LLL is oiroumferentially endless and seamless and nearly eneircles the said core and working the saine into adhesive eonnection with said protective material and said iirstanentioned ply, removing the tire from said core, and causing the ends of the innermost or tiret-mentioned ply to meet and adhere to each other, and causing the ends of enteior successive plies of vulcanizable inaterial to meet and adhere to each other, and vulcanizing the Whole into an integral mass.

7. The method of forming a tire consisting in laying upon a suitable core a ply of plastic vulcanizable material that almost completely encircles the said core and which is endless and seamless circumferentially of the said core and Working the same thereon so as to give it proper thickness and dimension; placing Within the said core and in adhesive connection with the said first-mentioned plastic ply a ring of vulcanizable material and having therein a hole for the passage of a valve therethrough; superimposing upon the said ply of plastic material adjacent to the tread portion of the tire a ply of protective material and Working the same into adhesive connection with the said first- .mentioned ply (the said protective ply eX- tendng circumferentially around the said l irst-mentioned ply, but not extending so far ,a-aroundf the said core as the first-mentioned ply) g superimposing another ply of Vulcanv-ir'ahle plastic material which more or'less underlies the said ring and is caused to adhere thereto and which is circumferentially.

endless4 and seamless and nearly encircles the said core and Working the same into adhesive Connection with the said ply of protective material and so Working the same to proper thickness and dimension; removing the tire'from the core and bringing its y loose oriiap ends over into juxtaposition to the said first-mentioned ply and to the said ring and causing the ends of the innermost or first-mentioned ply to meet and adhere to. each other and the end of the second plastic ply (anda if there be any, of any other plastic plies) underneath the said ring and causing the same to adhere thereto (thel valve having been previously inserted in the said hole in the said ring); and vulcanizing the Whole into an integral mass.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto ax my signature.

v HARRY B. WALLACE. 

